Printing device



W. H. NAU

PRINTING DEVICE June 3, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed July 18, 1946 JOHN sMrn-l l, oNE N. LAsALLz s-r., E xcAso, 1u..

INVENTOR. W'mef I'I .Nan

A T TOR/YE Y6 June 3, 1952 w. H. NAU

PRINTING DEVICE Filed July 18, 1946 2 sHEETs-SHEET 2 IN V EN TOR.

l BYlm-ef TLNLu.

A 'f7-ORNE Ys Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE i `:asias/i194' PRINTING DEVICE Wilmer H. Nau, Gates Mills, Ollio, assigner to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application July 18, 1946, Serial No. 684,411

1 Claim. (Cl. 101-57) A This invention'relates to printing and like devices of .the character that are passed sequentially through printing or other machines to have operations performed thereon or under control thereof.

Printing devices of the nature to which this invention pertains, which vare sometimes also known as printing and control devices, usually have type characters thereon from which an impression may be made onto .sheets` or the like when the devices are passed through a suitable printing machine. In the illustrated form of the invention such type4 characters are embossed on a at metal plate that is releasably retained on one face of the carrier or frame of the printing device. In those instances where type characters are embossed on a metal plate as aforesaid, an impression is usually made from atleast selected of such type characters onto a .card that is also releasably retained on the laforesaid face of theframe of the device to facilitate handling of the printing device particularly' inthe filing thereof, such, lprinting* devices usually being stored in drawers or the like when notjin use in printing machines. f i i 1 Moreover, printing devices of the'character to which this invention pertains are usually equipped with means effective to classify the printing devices and one manner in which this is accomplished is to removablysecure one ormore tabsV along one edge ofthe frame Vof such a1 printing device` in such a manner that at least a portion of such atab projects beyond,A an edge of the printing` device, one arrangementl of this characterbeing disclosed ini the patent to Gollwitzer No..2,049,436, patented August 4, 1936.

f In some instances Where resort is hadto one or more tabs secured to a printing device in the manner described-hereinabove, the means in the machine adapted tocooperate with such tabs which are effective; for example; to Adetermine Whether or not an impression is to be made Vfrom a particular printing device during passage thereof through a printing machine, the sensing device of such meansin the machine being arranged to` cooperate with the face of such `a tab when the tab is disposed at a particular predetermined position along one edge of a printing device. In some instances the sensing means are arranged to cooperate with the middle portion of a tab of predeterminedlwidth, and inV other instancestabs of less than such predeter-r mined width are employed so that, for example,

the sensing means, will cooperate with butV onehalf f a :tab 0f, predetermined width whereby tabs ,of a width equal to approximately one-half of the standard Width of tabs may be utilized. Resort to such half tabs is advantageous since it doubles the number of positions alongA the edge of a printing device Whereat one or more tabs may be arranged for cooperation with sensing means of the aforesaid character.

It hasbeen found heretofore it is ofttimes advantageous to further increase the `positions along an edge of a printing device whereat means such as tabs or the like may be afforded for cooperation with sensing means of the aforesaid character, and to this end it has been proposed heretofore to utilize tabs of the above described kind which may include one or more openings or embossures formedat selected or predetermined positions; In such circumstances sensing means of the aforesaid character are arranged to-co operate with such openings or embossures in the tabs.VV Inasmuch as such embossuresor openings may Vbe incorporated at selected of a plurality of positions on the tabs, it follows that the number of positions with which sensing means of the aforesaid character may cooperate is materially increased. Oneexample of tabs arranged in the above described manner is disclosed in the patent to Gollwitzer No. 1,930,799, patented October 17, 1933.

It has also been proposed heretofore to provide perforations in the frames of the printing devices for the purpose of classifying the same or to afford representations of data, one arrangement of thiswcharacter being disclosed in the patent to Gollwitzer No. V2,132,412, patented OctoberY ,11, 1938.- My invention may be embodied in a printing device having perforations formed therein for thepurpose of classifying the same or to afford data representations. Yet another example of aprinting'device including one or moreperforated areas that may be utilized for the purposes of classification or for data representations is that to which the copending application of Carl J. Hueber, Ser. No. 596,991, nled June 1,1945, pertains/and my invention may also be utilized in such printing devices.

In any instance, Where means are provided 'on printing and control orlike device to vclassify theV same orto afford data representations, it is important that such means be accurately oriented in the printing machines in which the devices are utilized so as to insureaccurate cooperation of the sensing means provided in the machine with the means' on' each device that impart; classification thereto or Whichaiord data representations. Moreover,A it is important 'thatj theV printing devices be firmly retained in a predetermined position in the printing machine when sensing means or the like are to cooperate therewith and to enable such desiderate to be realized in a novel and expeditious manner is a primary object of the present invention;

Yet another: object of this invention is to so arrange 'a printing device-of the aforesaid character that portions will be afforded therein that are adapted for cooperation with means in printing machines and the like in which the devices are utilized which will insure that the printing devices will be held in a predetermined positicnA and against canting in the predeterminedposi tion in the printing machine or the like, and an object ancillary to the foregoing is to form at way in a printing machine through which the printing device is being advanced; to arrange a mechanism for cooperation with the edge of a printing device opposite that engaged with rollers or the like of the aforesaid character that will be of such nature as to initially arrest movement of the printing devices in the selected at rest position thereof Tand wliiolivvvill alsofunction to accurately position the'device in such at rest position; and to utilize a common member including accurately related parts for the purpose rof initially arresting a printing device in an at least two portions on a printing "devicef the Y machineand tolinsure Vthat printing devices will be accurately arrestedV in at least selected ofV such positions'f is yet'another `object of this invention, andan object-ancillary to the foregoing is to' so arrange a printing device of the laforesaid character that means in a printing machine `or thelike may cooperate with a formed portion thereof to initially arrest the printingv device 'at least approximately in the desired position thereo'fY and to 'sol-relate -other'rneans in the printingY machine to thelinitialy movement arresting mean's'therein that such-other means will cooperate with 'anotherV formed -part lon a printing device Aof 4this invention to insurenal and accurate positioning of Vthe printing device at Aa selected and predeterminedpos 'nina printing machine'.A

accurately infaf predetermined position in a printing machine of the -aforesaid character I have found Vit advantageous to provide anarrangement in -theprintingfnia-chine of Asuch naturelthat'v a Vportion-fof ap'rinting device may -be engaged therewith in such 'ia manner as to,V enable relative movementbetweenthe printing vdevice and the means engaged th'e'rewith and also to provide means which will-rbe. Aeffective to move the printing device relative to the means engageable therewith so as to insure accurate positioningof the rprinting device in-the' printing and like machine and so to do in a novel and 'expeditious manner i's yet another object of this invention.

Further objectsV of thisinvention are toassociate witha printing device guideway inaprinting orlike machinegat at least lselectedofthe positions whereat the `Aprinting devices are to come to rest in the guideway,v anarrangement with which the printing' devices maybe engagedthat will be of 'such nature as to facilitate relative movement between the Varrangement and a printing device in the event such relative movement should be required to insure accurate'positioning of the printing device in the at rest position thereof inthe printing' device guideway; to utilize accurately positioned rollers with which an edge 45 In order that a printing device may Vbe disposedof a printing device may be engaged when disposedin anatrest position thereof in the guiderest position thereof and to accuratelyl position Vsuch printing device in such at rest position thereof Other and further objects of the present invention will beiapparent from the following descriptionand claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments and the principles thereotand -whatI now considera. to vvbe the best mode in which I have contemplated-applying those principles. '-Othe'rxembodixnents v.of the invention embodying the sameforequivalent. principles may be used and structurall'changes' may bemade as desiredby those skilled in'thaa'rt without departing from .the present inventioniand the purview ofthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig.V 1 is a fragmentary .perspective vievviofy a portion of a printing-machine of vthe character` through which printing devices of thenature to which this invention-'pertains areto. befpa'ssed and wherein a printing device is shown `asbeing accurately positioned in one ofthe. at resti/posi-` tions of the printing"devices in suchnprintlng. machine; i

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View takensub.- stantially on the linei2-'2 on Fig-1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryplanIview,*in which certain portions aretbroken'aw'ay, of a printing. device accurately disposed in an at .restlposition in-'a printing devicel'fgidewa'y; 4and Figs. 4 and 5'are'viewssimilar Vto Fig. .3showing modified forms of my invention.

The printing machine ywhich isfragmentarily illustrated inthe. accompanying drawings' ncludesa magazine into whichtheV printing de vices of `ther-presentV invention are introduced when these aref to b'e "advanced 's'eriatim andinj a step by step manner "through the p'rintin'g machine. The manner in which! such printing? devices are advancedl'gthrogh 'tlfe printingfmachine, which Y is fragmentarily'illustrated"in'l the` accompanying drawings; is sho'vvnandldescribed in the patent to"l Carl J. Hueber lNo.-'2,'35'9`,`850, patented Octoberv 10, -1944 to whicn reference may be made foifa detailed desc'riptin f the manner in "which the kprinting devices.'areifad-Y- vanced through-'the"printngmaohine` In'Fig. 1 AI have illustratedanarrangement that is adapted 'for cooperation ;with tabsflas...'r provided onthe printing devices'as'I-.D-and theillustrated form of 'such "arrangement-is-ione! which is effectivefto'determine whether. or not impressions are tolbe madel freni thepinting' dvices when Vthese .devices -move 'into printing-"posinon (not shown) `inthe machine 'that is 1frag' mentarily illustrated lin '-Fi'gi 11 Anlarran'ge-l ment of this lparticular characterisf'commonly referred to in the artasfa selector nieehatnisrn;- and the particular selector fmechanism'of "which a portion is v"shown in Fig.\1 -isyof the."character` shown-and fde'scribe'din.- the patent to'Carl JA Hueber No;12,359,s51;.:.patented; october v10,- 194441 The sensingmeans VSM of this selector -mechanism is illustrated in Fig. l, andthe manner in which this sensing means isV operated and the manner inwhich the selector of which this sensing means is a part functions may be readily asoertained by` referring to said Hueber Patent No. 2,359,851. In order to facilitate reference to such patent, those reference characters of greater numerical significance than 100 which appear on the accompanying drawing are the same reference characters as those which are utilized in said Patent No. 2,359,851 to designate the parts shown in that patent which also appear in the accompanying drawings. Y. n I Y y f A typical printing deviceinnwhich my invention maybe incorporated is illustrated in plan in Fig. 3, this particular printing device being of the character to which the Gollwitzer` Reissue Patent No. 22,249, patented January. r1,2, 1943,'

pertains. This printing device, generally indicated by D, includes a substantially rectangular frame, generally indicated by F, and which is desirably formed from sheet metal to include kspacing flanges as SF (Fig. 2) on the rear face and along the shorter edges thereof. A printing plate P is releasably retained on the front face of the frame F and type characters` TC are embossed onvthis plate P. An index card C is also releasably retained on the front face kof the frame F and desirably an impression is made froml at least selected of the type characters TC onto this index card C so as to facilitate ascertainment of what may be printed from the type characters TC, since so to do facilitates handling ofthe printing device particularly in the filing thereof in Va drawer or the like along with otherprinting devices of the nature to which this invention pertains.

When Athe printing devices D are introduced into the magazine M, they are withdrawn one by one from the bottom of a stack thereof in the magazine M and they first advance through a printing device guideway afforded between the girders or rails |5| Vand |52, retaining plates as I9 being effective to hold the printing devices down in the guideway. kAsexplained` in aforesaid Patent No. 2,359,851, carrier bars |53vare eiective to advance the printing devices in a step by step manner through thewprinting device guideway, the manner in which carrier bars as |5 3 are effective to do this being described in full detail in said Patent No.V 2,359,850. In 4the present instance, the printing devices as D are advanced from the magazine M into what is referred to as selector station I in said Patent No. 2,359,851, which is the position in which the printing device D is shown as being disposed in Fig. l. Y

Tabs as T are secured in tab socketsras TS on the frame F as disclosed, for example, in the patent to Gollwitzer No. 2,049,436, patented August fl, 1936, so that the body of such a tab projects beyond what is the trailing edge of the printing device as it advances through the printing device guideway. When a printing device as D comes to rest in said station I, the tabs as T thereon are disposed above a tab supporting plate 5m, which is in the nature of a comb, whereby the tabs may be aligned with sensing pins as 525C releasably retained at selected of predetermined positions in the sensing head (not shown) of the sensing means SM of the selector mechanism. As described in said Patent No. 2,359,851, the sensing pins as 525C are adapted to cooperate with perforations asl formed at selected of predetermined positions in the tabs as T. Subsequent to the time a printing device as/D comes to rest in station Lpthe pins as 525C are advanced towards perforations as in tabs as T, and in those instances where a perforation as is aligned Vwith a pin as 525C, said pin passes through such perforation. When, however, an unperforated portion of a tab as T is aligned with a sensing pin as 25C- and such pin engages suchunperforated portion, the sensing head in which the pin is mounted is arrested in` its movement so as to thereby be disposed in aposition diierent'from that in which this head would have been disposed had a pin as 525C passed through a perforation as It will be appreciated that the vperforations as andthe pinsas 525C Yare of. necessity of relatively restricted size wherefore it is importantA that the tabs as Tand perforations as therein be accurately ,positioned when a printing device as D is disposed in station I so as to insure accurate co- Qperationgbetween'the sensing pins as 525C and the perforations or lack of perforations'as |I.

In order to insure that such accurate positioning-of a printing device as D in a station as station I orjany vother station in the printing device guideway throughwhich the printing devices are advanced, I provide a substantially V-shaped notch as N in one of the shorter edges of the frame F of the printing device as D, such a notch desirablyjbeing located approximately midway between the longer edges of the substantially rectangular frame as F. In addition to providing a notchas N,- I also cut awayV a corner of the frame as F at what will be the leading edge of a printing device asl it passes through a printing device guideway in printing or like machine so as to thereby afford a horizontal shoulder S, and a vertical or longitudinal face SL. Desirably the notch asN and the shoulder asS are formed in the frame F of the printing device as D in the course of fabrication thereof anddesirably a single tool semployed to form the notch as N and the shoulder as S so as to thereby insure that this notch and shoulder will -be accurately related one to the other in the yframe of the printing device. Moreover, at the time the `notch as N and shoulder as ISv are formed in the frame F of a printing device,v'the frame is accurately located relative to the tool employed to form such notch and shoulder lfor so to do insures that -the notch as N and shoulder as S will be accurately located relative to the tab sockets 'as TS in which the tabsY as `T are to be mounted. Desirably tab sockets as TS and the tabsl as T areof the nature disclosed inl theabove referred to Gollwitzer Pattent No. 2,049,436, for resort for such an arrangement insures accurate positioning and accurate retention of the tabs as T on the frame as F of a printing device as D. Therefore, the notch as N and theshoulder as S are accurately related one to the other and to the tab sockets as TS and therefore to tabs as T to be mounted therein and consequently also to perforations as in tabsasT. `I n f Inasmuch as an accurate interrelation is established among the notch as N,'the shoulder as S and tabs as T and perforations as in tabs as T on a printing device as D, means may be provided in a printing machine which will be of such nature as to cooperate with a notch as N and a shoulder as S when a printing device as D is disposed at a predetermined position such as the station I in a printing machine. Moreover, the means in the machine that are to cooperate with a notch as N and` shoulder as S may be accurately related to Ymeans in the machine as the pins 525C thatare ltoA cooperatewith perforations as I| in tabs as T-on a printing deviceincluding the notch asNf-and the shoulderas -S with which the aforesaid'means in the machine are to cooperateatia particular time.. Consefluently,l cooperation Lof themeans Ain themachine with the notch asN, the shoulderasS'and the longitudinal faceas SLwill'beeffective Ito -insure that perforations as will be accurately located relative to pins as v525C when a printing device is disposed Vin station I in those instances where thermeans adapted 'for cooperation with thenotches as N,the shoulderasv Sandthe longitudinal face as SL are provided at such-station I.

In the present instance-the means'whichf-are to cooperate with the notch asfN and -shoulder as S consist of a plate I2 l'whichihas-'ears `as |3 and I4 at--the lower endsv thereof.V The'V ears project inwardly from the main bodyof theplate and in the present instancetheseears-have' rectangular openings as I5 yformed thereinto receive a rectangular haras I6. The rectangular bar I6 hastrunnions as II at oppositetends thereof which are rotatably mounted `inibrackets-'as I8 Aand'l that are fast to theunderside-oi-the rail as I5I asbest shown in Figsul and 2.

A nger projects inwardly fromn the main body of the plate y|2 atthe'upper end thereof and includes -a substantially V-shaped nose 2|.-

Another finger 22 having -a reelend'24' projects c inwardly from the upper edge -of 'the plate I2, such finger 22 projectingY inwardly -of the apex of-the V-shaped nose 2| to thereby -provide a stopor horizontal edge 23 .on the nger 22. The

V-shaped nose 2| is -formed to rbe complementary which-'are eectivetolreciprocate the carrier bars as 1| 53 which advance theprinting devices as YD through the printing device guideway.Y The timed relation Vthat ris uestablished betweenv -the -operation of the carrier bars -as"|53 and thelinkas |95 issuch that immediately prior'fto thetime the carrier-bars |53 reachthe 'forward end of. their advancing movement, to advance the print ing devicefrom the `magazine M into stationI,"

the link |95 is movedto 'the left-'as `viewed inv Fig. 2 to'thereby rotate ythe barrlB andtherefore` -1 the Vplate I2 counterclockwise `into the position in which the plate |2 is shown in Figs;` 1 and `2.'

The counterclockwise movement-that is thus imparted to theplate I2 vis-effective iirst'offall to dispose thestop'edge 23 inpositiontoengage the shoulder -Swhenthe'printing device D on which the shoulder S is included attainstheat rest position thereof in station I. Inasmuch as the stop edge 23 projects yinwardly lbeyondethe apex of the Vshaped nose-2|;vsaide-stopfedge engages the shoulder S prior-to the time the -nose 2| advances into Athefnotchsas N. When,how ever, the nose asf2 I advances-onto'the notch .as N, the complementary configurations ofthe notch as N and the nose 2 lare effective toV insure firm seating cf the shoulder as S-onlthestopedge^23V and engagement between the free end- 24-ofnger 22 lwith the Alongitudinali-face SL fsowthatthe' printing devicel-as is accurately Vand lfirmly held'V in Lpositionagainstfcanting'f bythe siitting-A 8 of the nose 2| -inlthe notchlas N, the engagement of theshoulder' as-S with the stop edge23,.and the engagement ofthe free end24'of iinger122 withY the longitudinal face SL atY the leading corner of the printing device.

Inasmuchas a shoulder as S may not be fully engaged with the stopedge as 23 prior -to the time the-nose 2| enters the -notchas N, it isadvantageous to insure that-relative movement betweenthe nose as 2`I-and the Walls of the notch as A1N-nfiay-'be Aeiected,v Vand to this end I provide rollers as r`26` and 27| that areA disposed in position to engage the edge of the frame as F ofthe printing device as D opposite-the edge of suchdevice in which the VVnotchlas N-andthe shoulder as S are formed, said rollers 26 and- 2'I being mounted in the top'edge of the-railbl52 inrposition lto engage the adjacent edge of the frame'` F `when-.a printingdevice as D is disposed in station I. The rollers .26 and 21 preferably include hardened peripheries andv these rollers are accurately relatedone to the other and to the positionrin which it is desired to retain the printing device D in Astation I. Thus in the course Vof the aforesaid counterclockwise movement of the plate |2, the engagement ofthe nose as 2| and the free end 21|V of the nger as 22 with a printing device as Dat N and SL respectively is effective to force suchprinting device into-engagement with the peripheries ofthe accurately 4positioned rollers 26 and 27,' and this in cooperation'with the accurate relation between the nose 2|, stop edge23, and the'ffree end 2li of nger 22 and notch as N, shoulder as S, andthe longitudinal face SL on the particular device insures accurate positioning of the printing device in stationI. Furthermore, since the rollers as 25 and 21 arevfreely rotatable inthe-event that some relative movement occurs between the walls'of the notch as N and the nose as 2|, this may easily be effectedby reason of the capabilityof the rollers 26 and-21 to freely rotate.

When the carrier bars as |53 are moved rearwardlyto thereafter be again moved forwardly so'as to advance the -particular printing device asDWhich has beenv disposed in'station I from this Vstation and to advance another printing devicefrom the magazine M into station I, the link will operate yto movethe plate I2 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, so as to thereby retract the nose 2|"andstopedge 23l respectively from cooperation with the notch as N and shoulder as S, prior to the time the carrierbars as |53 start theforward advancing movement thereof to thereby free the printing device of station I from the-retention thereof by the fingers 20 and 22.

In Fig. 4 I haveshown a modified form of my invention and since in most respects the arrangement there illustrated corresponds to -that described hereinabove, whereranY element appears in Fig. ti-that has been described hereinabove,

the samereference character as that applied device Da, and in this device the notch Na is spacedaW-ay from whatv will be the leading edge of the printing device as it advances through a printing machine in-such a way that an accurate relationship isestablished between this edge and the'notch Ng'just-as yan accurate vrelationship is 9f established between the notch N and the shoulder S in the printing device D shown in Figs. 1 to 3. A plate |2ais provided which functions like the plate |2 described hereinabove. The plate |2a has a'nger 20a formed at the upper end thereof that includes a nose 2 la which corresponds'to the nose 2 I, said nose 2 |a being ladapted to cooperate with the notch Na in the manner described hereinabove with reference to the nose 2| and notch N. The plate |2aalso includes a finger 22a which has a notch 30 formed at the inner end thereof so as to thereby define a shoulder or horizontal stop edge 3| engageable with the leading end of the printing device at FE and a longitudinal face 32 engageable with the corresponding longitudinal face FL at the leading corner of the printing e device. n

When the plate |2a is moved toward the printing device Da, in the manner vdescribed hereinabove with reference to the plate I2, the shoulder 3| moves into position to engage the adjacent portion of V,the leading edge of a printing device moving into station Ia to thereby arrest advancing movement of printing device Da in station Ia, the shoulder 3| functioning in this instance like the stop edge `23 on the finger 22 and Ythe longitudinal face 32 at the inner end of finger 22a functioning in this instance like the free end 25 of finger 22. Subsequent to the time the leading edge of a printing device has engaged the shoulder 3|, the nose 2 la advances into the notch Na, and since the shoulder 3| is accurately spaced from the apex of the nose 2 la and since the notch Na is accurately spaced from the leading edge of the printing device Da, the engagement of such leading edge with the shoulder 3| and the seating of the nose 2 la in the notch Na accurately orients the printing device in station Ia, the position of the printing device being accurately adjusted by the cooperation of the nose 2| a with the notch Na and the cooperation of shoulder 3| and the longitudinal face 32 respectively with the leading end at FE and the longitudinal face FL of the printing device the rollers 26a and 21a functioning in this instance to facilitate adjustment of the position of the printing device as do the rollers 26 and 21 as described hereinabove.

A yet further modified form of my invention is shown in Fig. 5, and in this instance, where an element appears that has been described hereinabove, a reference character like that applied to such element in Figs. 1 to 3 is applied to the element where it appears in Fig. 5 but the suffix "b. is added to such reference character where it appears in Fig. 5.

The printing device Db shown in Fig. 5 does not have a notch as N or Na formed therein and this printing device is also not equipped with a shoulder as S. However, at the corner of the printing device where the shoulder S is formed in the printing device D shown in Fig. 3, the printing device Db is provided with a chamfered or bevelled edge 35. Moreover, the other corner of the printing device at the edge thereof in which the chamfered or bevelled edge 35 is provided is formed to embody a chamfered or bevelled edge 36. The bevelled edges 35 and 36 are accurately spaced one from the other in the manner in which the notch N and shoulder S are accurately spaced one from the other as hereinabove described.

Moreover, in this instance the plate |2b which functions in the manner described hereinabove with reference to the plate I2, is equipped with a finger 2Gb which, at the inner end thereof, is

provided with a chamfered or bevelled edge 33 that is complementary to and which Vis adapted to cooperate with the bevelled edge 36 on the printing device Db. The plate `|2b also includes a finger 22b which is provided with a chamfered or bevelled edge 31 that is complementary to and which is adapted to cooperate with the bevelled edge 35. The bevelled edges 31 and 38 are accurately spaced one from the other as are the stop edge 23 and the apex of the nose 2| as described hereinabove. Therefore, when the edges 31 and 38 respectively move into cooperation with the edges and 36, since the edges 31 and 38 are accurately spaced one from the other, and 'since the edges 35 and 36 are accurately spaced one from the other, and since the spacing between the edges 31 and 38 corresponds to the spacing between the edges 35 and 36, the printing device Db is accurately positioned in station Ib. In this instance by reason of the bevelled configuration of the cooperating Vedges as 35 and 31 and 36 and 38, the position of the printing device Db in station Ib may be adjusted to insure accurate orientation of the printing device Db in station Ib, and in thisinstance, the rollers 26b and 21b facilitate such movement of the printing device Db as may be necessary to insure accurate orientation thereof instation Ib, particularly if movement is effected as an incident to the edges 31 and 38 respectively moving into cooperation with the edges 35 and 36.

The edge 31 will serve as a stop edge and will be effective to arrest advancing movement of a printing device moving into station Ib just as the stop edge 23 is effective to arrest movement of a printing device moving into station I, Fig. 3. However, if the edge 35 does not remain in engagement with the edge 31, then as the edge 38 moves into cooperation with the edge 36, the position of the printing device will be adjusted in station Ib so that when the plate |2b has attained the inner position thereof, the printing device Db will be accurately oriented in station Ib.

It will be manifest from the foregoing description that by resort to arrangements such as are described hereinabove, a printing device may be accurately oriented in a predetermined position in a guideway for such devices provided in a printing or like machine, and it Will therefore be seen that the hereinabove described arrangements enable the above set forth and kindred objects of this invention to be realized.

However, while I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claim.

I claim:

In a printing machine having spaced-apart first and second guide means, determinative of a path of travel traced out by the first and second fside edges of printing devices, which printing devices are progressively feedable along the guide means to a work-performing station in the machine whereat the printing devices are to be successively accurately positioned relative to detecting elements for cooperating with the printing devices, and which printing devices are each formed with a charnfered notch extending inwardly from a first point on the said first side edge removed a predetermined distance from a second point on the side edge extension of the leading-most right-angled corner portion corresponding to the said rst sideedge, means at the Work-performing station for locating.. and vaccurately positioning each of the .printingdevices relative to the detectingelements andcomprising, a substantially U-shaped member positioned adjacent the outside of the irst guidemeans and being operatively connected. to the machine for reciprocation into andout of the so-dened path of travel in timed sequence relative to the feeding of the printing devices, the U-shapedfmember having rst and second spacedfapart legelements adapted toengage each o f Ythe printing Vdevices at the said rst and secondVv points on the side edges thereof, the terminal free end'of the rst leg element being configured complementary to the said notch to therebybe yseatabletherein the-terminal free end of the second leg element being configured complementary torthe'said leading-most right-angled corner portion, the said terminal free endshaving third'and -fourth points respectivelyl alignable with and Vengageable with the said first and second points and the distance therebetween being equal -to the distance between the said iirst and second points, the eX- tent Vof reciprocation ofthe U-shaped member into the sof-dened path of travel being such as to cause the said'fo'urth point on the second leg elementfto-engage Athe said second .point on the said` rstside .edgey andy to `cause the terminal free endof'.thexiirstzlegelement tobe seated in the saidv notch', and a-pairtof -rollers at the workperforming station'rfreely mounted for rotation in lthe second guide means, the peripheries of the rollers `being locatedinposition to be engaged by thevsecond side edgeof each of the printing devices -vv-hen A-at the work-performingv station whereby, the terminal free 'ends ofthe leg ele-V ments andxthefreely rotatable rollers cooperate toaccurately position the-printing devices at the Work-performing,.station.

`WILL/IER, H. NAU.

REFERENCES [CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patenti Number 'Name Date 2,947,200 Gollwitzer July 14, 1936 y2,047,201 Gollwitzer July 14, 1936 2,111,121' :Mills Mar. 15, 1938 2,359g8-50 -Hueber Oct. 10, 1938 '2,'132A12 `(,ollvvitzer Oct. 11, 1938 2,132,444 Gollwitzer Oct. 1l, 1938 2,359,851 A'Hueber Oct. 10, 1944 

